Although some of your questions may be answered by consulting other pages of this website (such as Why Economics at URI? or Academic Programs), below are a few of the more frequently asked questions from current and prospective economics students.
What is the difference between the B.A. and B.S. programs?
The BA program is designed for students who wish to have a good, rigorous major that is well-regarded by graduate schools and employers, but who are not necessarily committed to a job as an economist immediately upon graduation. The BS program in Applied Economics requires the completion of courses in Econometrics and Quantitative Methods and is somewhat more mathematically-oriented than the BA program. Students taking the BS in Applied Economics options often aspire to entry-level jobs as economists in the financial, government, or non-profit sectors. For students wishing to go on to graduate school in economics, the BS program in Economic Theory and Methods is recommended. Along with same courses required of all BS students, the Theory and Methods option requires a number of courses in mathematics that will give students the foundation they will need to succeed in graduate programs in economics.
Are there any prerequisites for economics majors?
All economics majors should start by taking ECN 201 Principles of Economics: Microeconomics and ECN 202 Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics. BS should also plan on taking an introductory level calculus course, such MTH 131 Applied Calculus I or MTH 141 Introductory Calculus with Analytic Geometry.
How many credits will I need to graduate?
Overall economics students need 120 credits to graduate. See the page Academic Programs at this website for a list of the exact courses that you will need for your major and program. For BA students, the university requires that 42 of your 120 credits be at the 300 level or above.
What GPA must I maintain?
In order to graduate, you must have a GPA of at least 2.0 overall and a GPA of at least 2.0 for courses in your major. Students whose GPAs fall below 2.0 are placed on academic probation and are subject to academic dismissal.
Can I take courses at other universities?
You may take courses at other universities. Please note that no more than half the credits URI requires for graduation (i.e. 60 for economics majors) may be transferred from a two-year institution. Also, at least half of the credits required for a major and minor, and one-quarter of total credits, must be earned at URI. Only courses taken at URI count toward your GPA. If you are a URI student who wishes to take economics courses at another university, including a foreign university, you should seek prior approval from the chair of the Economics Department.
Can I do an internship?
Yes. Internships are great way to gain practical knowledge while accumulating credits toward your degree. See the page Internships at this website for more information.
What is required of an Economics minor?
Any student majoring in another field who takes 18 credits of economics can declare an economics minor. Economics minors must complete ECN 201 Principles of Economics: Microeconomics and ECN 202 Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics and four addition economics courses. A declaration of minor form must also be filed with the dean’s office.